Whether your fourth-great-grandfather served in the Civil War or your ancestors watched from the sidelines, gain insight into their experiences with Life in Civil War America by historian Michael O. Varhola.

His new book takes readers back to the war between the states, illuminating the sweeping changes and cultural norms that shaped the everyday lives of soldiers and civilians. Discover what it was like to sit around the campfire cooking hellfire stew and "throwing the papers" with fellow soldiers. Or see how it was on the home front, passing the time with war worries at a starvation party, where the only refreshment served was water.

Inside the cover you'll find:

a look at the social and economic realities of daily life in the Union and Confederacy, from big cities and small towns to plantations and communes

an explanation of military life in the army and navy, from rankings and regiments to duties and dress

the typical diets of soldiers and civilians, including period recipes, food preparation and the impact of shortages and inflation on rations

definitions of common terms, slang and idioms of the era

dozens of Civil War photographs and illustrations plus an appendix on the role photography played during the war